Recap / The Interns S 5 E 1

Bykov played a prank on Kupitman last year, and now waits for Kupitman's revenge; it can happen any minute. Except... he does nothing! Bykov feels insulted by this, thinking that his friend simply forgot about him, and wants to find out what's wrong.

Lobanov, due to extreme stress he feels, acts like a total jerk to anyone around him — he insults his female colleague (twice), and harms Phil's feelings (Phil's dog just died). When Phil, hurt by his dog's death, asks Bykov where he can find a therapist, he suggests to ask their psychiatrist Irina for help (coincidentally, one of the people whom Semyon insulted), and she gives him a sick leave to deal with his loss. When Lobanov realises that he can use this as well to avoid doing his work, he tries to speak with her too, but this backfires when he actually starts telling her what bothers him and becomes "a bit" too emotional, leading to Irina deciding that he's unfit to work — an opportunity Bykov readily exploits to fire him. Now he must somehow prove that he's sane... which would not be easy, since Irina is still angry at him.

Varya still can't tell Gleb that she's not, in fact, pregnant... especially since he seems to be so happy about this and insist that he would do all work for her. Except, he is not happy at all, doesn't know what to do and not sure how long he can deal with all of this without breaking down.

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This episode provides examples of:

• Best Served Cold: Today is another anniversary of Bykov meeting Kupitman. On previous anniversary, he "gifted" Kupitman with ink-filled booby trap. And he is certain that Kupitman would not miss an opportunity for revenge. Despite spending a whole day in futile attempts to find out what Kupitman has prepared for him, Bykov finds nothing (he feels insulted by this, because apparently Kupitman just forgot why this day is so significant). And then, when he thinks that it is over, Kupitman uses that same ink booby trap against him, when Bykov doesn't expect it.
• Comically Missing the Point: When Lobanov asks why Phil is crying, Phil says that "Jackson has died". Lobanov assumes that he refers to Michael Jackson, and tells that he had died long ago, after which Phil specifies that he's talking about his dog.
• Description Cut: Varya tells Lyuba that Gleb "almost shines with happiness". Cut to Gleb explaining to Semyon just how he is tired and scared by this.
• Dude, Not Funny!: Lobanov's attempts to "support" Phil (who is sad because his dog has died) completely fails, because he tries to do so with "jokes"... about dead dogs.
• Fake Pregnancy: Gleb is still unaware that Varya is not, in fact, pregnant, and insists that he would do all work for her. Bykov initially insists that she must tell him, but then decides that it would be better to wait with it, since it may be their only opportunity to force Gleb to finally do something.
• Gone Horribly Right: Lobanov attempts to use Irina for free sick leave. But once they starts speaking, he quickly tells her every one of his problems, until he finally snaps and shouts just how his life sucks. She recommends Bykov to suspend him from work until he stabilises, but Bykov instead takes this as a great excuse to fire him outright. Now Semyon's only hope to save his job is to ask Irina to tell Bykov that he is, in fact, sane... which would not be easy, since she is still angry at him after his previous rude behaviour.
  Lobanov: And I'm in utter! Endless! Asshole! ASS-HOLE!!!
• Hair-Trigger Temper: Lobanov is so stressed out, he explodes at slightest provocation, being highly unstable even by his usual standards.
• Jerkass: Due to the stress caused by his divorce and Gleb now wanting to kick him out, Lobanov acts extremely rudely to Irina (which later backfires on him), and later Phil.
• Not Helping Your Case: Lobanov's actions while trying to prove that he's sane only shows that he's not:
  • Lobanov insist to Bykov that he is, in fact, sane, despite what was said by Irina (a psychiatrist). When Bykov doesn't believe him, Lobanov starts shouting at him. Lampshaded by Bykov:
    Bykov: By this, you're only digging yourself deeper, Lobanov. You only lacks the foam from mouth.
    Lobanov: I'm not a madman, Andrey Eugenievitch! I'M NOT A MADMAN!!!
  • Semyon repeats the same mistake when attempts to speak with Irina. Not only he shouts that "[he] is not a madman" again, he even attempts to hit an elevator doors with his fist. She just runs from him in fear.
• Paranoia Gambit: Kupitman's revenge is... him doing absolutely nothing to Bykov, forcing Bykov to spend a whole day in futile attempts to find (non-existent) "traps". At one point Bykov even thinks that Kupitman simply forgot about "anniversary", and feels insulted by this. And then, when Bykov thinks that this is over, Kupitman uses the same ink boobytrap trick which Bykov previously used on him, catching him by surprise, just like Kupitman was.
• The Shrink: This episode introduces psychiatrist Irina. She helps Phil with his depression, and gives him sick leave. Lobanov, being Lobanov, only hears the "sick leave" and attempts to use her to receive one. He receives much more than that.
• Stepford Smiler: Gleb tries to look happy, but in fact he is extremely stressed by the whole story with Varya’s "pregnancy"; him insisting to take all Varya's work on himself (which is too much for him) only makes the matters worse.
• There Are No Therapists: Subverted. When Phil asks where he can find a therapist, Bykov tells him that in Russia, the closest you can find is a bottle of vodka and your neighbour. But when he realises that the problem is, in fact, serious, he suggests their psychiatrist, Irina, who does help him.